Late Bloomfield Police Officer Honored At Blue Mass (VIDEO)

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A former Bloomfield police officer who died after fighting a "tough battle" with the coronavirus – just months after retiring – was among those honored at an annual Blue Mass in Newark.

The Archdiocese of Newark celebrated its 28th Annual Blue Mass honoring the dedication and sacrifices of active, retired and deceased New Jersey law enforcement personnel earlier this month in the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Among those honored was Benedetto “Benny” Christiano of the Bloomfield Police Department.

Christiano, 53, was born in Belleville and was a longtime resident of Bloomfield, according to his obituary. After his passing, the Bloomfield Division of Public Safety offered a message of condolence and tribute to Christiano, who served as a local police officer for 26 years, and as former treasurer for the Bloomfield PBA.

• See related article: Beloved Bloomfield Cop Dies Of COVID Just Months After Retiring

Three other officers who died in retirement were also remembered during the Blue Mass: Jack McGarry of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the East Orange Police Department, Danny Francis of the Newark Police Department, and Richard T. McKnight of the Newark Police Department.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, presided over the liturgy, which featured honor guard units, bagpipers, drummers and supporters representing multiple faiths.

This year, Gov. Phil Murphy, former Gov. Jim McGreevey and other dignitaries joined hundreds of members of law enforcement in paying tribute to four police officers killed in the line of duty in recent years: Detective Joseph Seals of the Jersey City Police Department; U.S. Capitol Police Officer and New Jersey native Brian Sicknick; Officer Michael Teel of the Port Authority Police Department; and Officer Sean Peek of the Bridgeton Police Department.

Additionally, 31 police officers who died of COVID-19 were acknowledged, and 37 Port Authority officers who were killed during the World Trade Center terrorist attacks were recognized to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

The Archdiocese of Newark serves approximately 1.3 million Catholic residents in 212 parishes throughout the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union.

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